I know. We are already in the New Year, but that is the civil or calendar year, and not the natural cyclic year as celebrated by observing the succession of New Moons. The beginning of the Tibetan (and the Chinese New Year) will be celebrated on January 31st, 2014, but the actual New Moon that triggers this will occur on Thursday January 30th, 2014 at 4:39 PM EST, which is tomorrow.

And this means that today, Wednesday January 29th, is the last day before the day of the New Moon, a day when all over the world extended pujas are being held built around the fierce protector deities of the various lineages. In other words, these are the dark days before the New Moon, the Protector Days, and today is last and darkest of those days. What does that mean?

For one thing, it means that at 4:39 PM tomorrow, we have New Moon and the end not only of the current lunar cycle, but also of the entire year's worth of lunar cycles. It marks a new beginning. And to me it suggests that these last several days, and today as well, are the dark days of the Moon, perhaps somewhat or even very difficult for some of us.

I always find it hard to get through the three days before the New Moon, and this tradition exists both in eastern and western astrology – the dark days of the moon, what in Medieval times might be called the Devil's Days.

Astrologically, as well, these days are internally perhaps very static, which simply means we may feel a lack of real drive, the will to do things and get things done we imagine we should be getting done. That idea.

I don't want to sound particularly heavy, but these are indeed the dark days of the Moon and the end of the year.

Here is another interview of me by videographer Troy Wehner, in this one I am talking about my own experience with meditation, and how difficult that journey has been.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCrROKHhsVI

[Image of a protector deity, not a devil, but actually one of the good guys, a protector deity that protects the dharma from backsliding, and us as well.]